Have you ever rewatched a TV series that you know you loved but then when you rewatch it you realize how much more powerful it really is? Maybe it's that whole thing about watching something more than once to truly see everything it had to offer. Maybe it's being in a different place in your life. Maybe it's realizing your daughter isn't too far away from the age of many of the main characters. Whatever it is, Friday Night Lights is hitting me in the feels this week.
I've been binge watching it all summer. I started b/c it was summer and there was no football to watch. So what better thing to do but watch a show about football?! And so it began...
I'm 4 seasons in...Coach Taylor is now coaching the East Dillon Lions. His daughter has fallen in love and had her heart broken by the cutest, most sweet guy in TV football land. Landry has finally begun to move on from Tara. Riggins continues to try. His name should be Try rather Tim. Who doesn't love Tim Riggins and want him to succeed???
And my mind wanders to real life - I want my daughter to go away for college simply to see the world and see what it has to offer. But I'm watching Julie check out colleges that are hours from home and watching Tami Taylor take her to visit...Suddenly I start to feel lonely without Emer around. She's 8 years away from moving away from me! What the heck am I thinking about?! It's such a conundrum trying to raise an only daughter. Yes, she should see the world. Yes, she should realize there is SO MUCH MORE THAN INDIANA. But yes, she is important to me! And I don't want to lose her! But I want her to find the right place for her. I am literally ready to move wherever she goes to college when the time is here but I'm #1 - not sure she believes me and #2 - not sure that's the right thing to do to help her. How do people encourage their kids to explore the world without losing them??? So difficult...and ridiculously inspired by a TV show, ha!
And then there are the kids she'll be going to school w/ who don't have her supportive family. How the heck do they ever get out of Indiana?! I wish I could help each one of them. I wish I could be the parent to every student who doesn't have a supportive parent. I wish I could be the friend to every parent who is trying to support their student but doesn't know how. I was a guidance counselor so I can help! Just ask me! Every student deserves the best opportunity suited to him/ her.
At the end of the day, this show is about opportunity - hope - love - being your best self - and Texas football.
One final thought - you know you're getting old when you stop relating to the young people on shows and start relating to their parents.
SIGH...
